International Walk to School Day October 3, 2007

International Walk to School Day



Carmel, IN - Several million children and their families around the world will be taking to their feet in support of International Walk to School Day, which takes place on Wednesday, October 3rd. Three elementary schools in Carmel have activities planned this year on Walk to School Day. Children and their families from all schools in Carmel are encouraged to take part by walking to school on the morning of October 3rd.

Mohawk Trails Elementary is encouraging kids to walk to school as well as having them walk a lap around the school at approximately 8 a.m. Upon arrival, the school will have goody bags for the children who participate. Forest Dale Elementary and Prairie Trace Elementary are both including walking and bicycling safety lessons in their Physical Education classes on October 3rd. If your morning route is near any of these elementary schools please use extra caution when driving.

Thousands of schools across more than 40 countries will be organizing promotional activities and events on Walk to School Day, in an effort to reduce the number of short car trips on the daily school-run.

The primary aim of International Walk to School Day is to raise awareness about the many positive health, safety and environmental benefits that can be gained from regular walking to and from school. Families are also encouraged to actively participate in walk to school promotional events being held locally and to share their experiences with a global audience. If most families who regularly drive short trips to school were to respond positively by walking together, even just some of the time, astonishing differences would be noticed - not the least of which is the fact that they would save on gasoline costs.

The City of Carmel is working towards being a more “walkable community” by implementing many of the principles of “Traditional Neighborhood Development” in its current and future projects. These pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods help to conserve energy and alleviate traffic congestion by placing less of an emphasis on the automobile as the sole means of transportation.

Please contact David Littlejohn at the City of Carmel at 571-2306 for any questions. Thank you to all of the following sponsors:

§ Ben & Ari’s Golf Galaxy

§ Carmel Care Center

§ Carmel Fire Department

§ Carmel Police Department

§ City of Carmel

§ Conseco

§ Edward Jones

§ Engledow Group

§ Hamilton Centers Youth Service Bureau

§ Moore Engineers

§ Party Tree

Official Website: http://www.carmel.in.gov